Garmin Unveils Sleek New Edge500 Cycling GPS

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., the global leader in satellite navigation, announced the aerodynamic Edge 500, an evolutionary leap in cycling technology. Weighing a mere 2 ounces, Edge 500 features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, requires no calibration, can be switched quickly and easily between bicycles and connects wirelessly with ANT+™ compatible third-party power meters.

“Using feedback from the best focus group imaginable – the Pro Tour cyclists of Team Garmin-Slipstream, we’ve developed a lightweight cycling computer that’s powerful enough for the pros yet simple enough for beginners,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Sitting sleek and snug on a redesigned handlebar mount, Edge 500 streamlines your cycling statistics for a fraction of the cost of comparable head units.”

Designed for performance cyclists, the GPS-enabled Edge 500 tracks speed, distance, time, GPS position, elevation, calories burned, climb and descent. For extra-precise climb and descent data, Edge 500 incorporates a barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation. Combining more data than ever into one device, Edge 500 syncs wirelessly through ANT+™ technology with compatible third-party power meters. Edge 500 also pairs wirelessly with Garmin speed/cadence sensors and features advanced heart rate-based calorie computation when used with a Garmin heart rate monitor. Boasting a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFixTM that quickly acquires and maintains satellite reception, the Edge 500 also displays temperature readings, changes time zones automatically and alerts riders if they’re moving but the timer is not running. With up to 18 hours of battery life, Edge 500 features a low-profile, quarter-turn mount that fits easily on the stem or handlebars.

“Since becoming our title sponsor, Garmin has guaranteed that we have the best technology available,” said Team Garmin’s Christian Vande Velde, fresh off his top-8 finish at the Tour de France. “At training camp we made requests: we wanted a smaller device with a big screen, easy-to-use buttons and sturdier mount. Garmin listened. The Edge 500 reflects our requests and then some, adding vertical speed, accurate calories and temperature readings.”

Vande Velde and teammate David Zabriskie, who recently credited his Edge after winning his fourth consecutive U.S. Time Trial championship and fifth in his career, will be meeting fans and signing autographs at Interbike from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Garmin booth #2630.

“In a sport where every ounce and second counts, Edge 500 provides unparalleled data and accuracy,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports, LLC, the sports management company that runs Team Garmin. “It’s the perfect tool for training and racing for every facet of the sport – time trials, climbing, all-out sprints and breakaways. And downloading data to Garmin Connect helps us replay the ride time and again and study the statistics, looking for any room for improvement for the next day. It also allows our fans and the media access to the riders’ data for any given day.”

When paired with a Garmin heart rate monitor, Edge 500 tracks the micro changes in a user’s heart rate and uses that detailed information to better calculate the number of calories burned. In developing Edge 500 and its heart rate-based calorie computation, Garmin worked with Firstbeat Technologies Ltd., a technology company based in Finland. Firstbeat is an industry leader in heart rate analysis, specializing in developing user-centered software solutions for heart beat signal analysis in exercise and sports, weight management, and stress monitoring applications.

Cyclists can track Team Garmin’s featured rides – or download, analyze and share rides of their own – by participating in Garmin ConnectSM, an online community that brings together millions of activities around the world. Garmin Connect displays metrics such as time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate. This information is shown through charts, illustrations, reports and a variety of map representations including street, photo, topographic, and elevation maps as well as the popular Google Earth application. Garmin Connect users can search for activities in their area and try the activities for themselves by uploading the data to Garmin devices, which will then guide the way.

Featuring a USB interface for easy charging and data transfer, Edge 500 has a suggested retail price of $249.99. When bundled with a heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor, Edge 500 has a suggested retail price of $349.99.

Edge 500 is the latest breakthrough from Garmin, which has spent 20 years using technology and innovation to enhance users’ lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. For more about features and availability, as well as information about Garmin’s other products and services, go to www.garmin.com, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/jakesjournal. For more information on Team Garmin and Slipstream Sports, visit www.garmin.com/teamgarmin and www.slipstreamsports.com.

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